Regional Children’s Chorus

Share the joy of opera with children all over Australia

Opera Australia enables children all across Australia to take the first steps on their own special journeys with opera, through our Regional Children’s Chorus and Regional Student Scholarship programs.

The 2016 Regional Children’s Chorus program gives 24 children aged between 9 and 14 years in each community visited on our regional tour the chance to perform as the Chorus in The Marriage of Figaro.

In 2014 and 2015, during our national tour of The Magic Flute, the program involved 757 children in 37 towns across Australia, in 50 performances to a total audience of over 20,000.

Mozart's brilliant opera The Marriage of Figaro follows the adventures of a household over one crazy day. Masters are lusting over their servants, servants are outwitting their masters — Figaro is the Downton Abbey of opera, but a whole lot more fun!

Award-winning creative duo Michael Gow and Robert Kemp have created a brand new production, featuring stunning period costumes and a clever set. A talented chamber orchestra and chorus of local children will accompany some of Opera Australia's finest singers performing Mozart’s beautiful music.

In a wealthy household in Seville, Figaro is marrying Susanna, but the Count wants to seduce her first. Marcellina wants Figaro and the Countess just wants her husband back. But Susanna is smarter than all of them. After a crazy day of disguise and duplicity, will she get her happily ever after?

The Marriage of Figaro is a delightful night out, suitable for the whole family. Find out when it comes to a town near you!

Community participation and musical excellence

Opera Australia collaborates with the local venues and music educators at each step of the process. A local choir leader is provided with all the materials and assistance required to train the children beforehand. An Opera Australia Chorus Master travels to each town to rehearse the children into the performance. On the day of the performance, children rehearse onstage with the professional cast and orchestra, then perform in costume that night as the ‘three spirits’, the animals, and other chorus roles.

Side by side with some of Opera Australia’s finest singers, the Children's Chorus will feel the magic of taking a curtain call and receiving the instant positive feedback of applause from their family and friends in the audience.

Through the rehearsal and performance process children also gain a wider understanding of opera, which may spark interest in future artistic pursuits.

The Children’s Chorus is a collaborative process that encourages teamwork, focus, participation and confidence as well as a love of music.

At Opera Australia we believe a love for the arts is a lifelong journey which will enrich your life in immeasurable ways. It keeps on giving. The Regional Children’s Chorus is an important part of this journey:

Students from Bendigo and Armidale used their new skills and were cast in the children’s ensemble for the main stage production of Tosca at Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne.

Bathurst recorded increased numbers in their community choir, from both children involved in the Children’s Chorus and adults who were in the audience.

Fostering the future of arts education

In the modern world it is becoming increasingly recognised that the skills engendered by a solid arts education are important for success in life and youth development. As part of Australia’s largest performing arts company, Opera Australia is uniquely in the position to be able to fulfil this need.